The Valley Of Ashes In The Great Gatsby Analysis

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To reverse the setting and corresponding tone of good wealth and high fortunes, Fitzgerald utilizes the setting of Valley of Ashes. Described as "a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges” (Fitzgerald 23), the Valley of Ashes represents the lower class and poverty. It is a “solemn dumping ground" (Fitzgerald 23), symbolizing the upper class destruction and the way they exploit the hard working "ash-gray men" (Fitzgerald 23). Thus, the established atmosphere delivers hopelessness of acquiring the profound and well known American Dream. The "grey land" (Fitzgerald 23) that covers the Valley of Ashes is very significant as it indicates depression, sadness, misfortune, and persistent poverty. In addition, the ashes illustrates their …show more content…

Eckleburg, painted on an old advertising billboard. They are, the eyes of God, always watching and observing the actions of everyone. Despite the fact that Wilson may not know the truth about Myrtle's affair and death, he knows that "you can’t fool God" (Fitzgerald 159) because "God sees everything"(Fitzgerald 160). Thus, the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg symbolizes the corruption seen through the streets of New York. In addition, the eyes symbolize the loss of spiritual values in America and the deceptive belief and failure of the American Dream. The billboard, similar to the profound values of America, are dismissed as "as his eyes, dimmed a little by many paintless days, under sun and rain, brood on over the solemn dumping ground” (Fitzgerald 24). The historic, old-fashioned beliefs of America, which Nick Caraway comes back to reconnect with in the mid-West are totally expelled from the East. Therefore, God appears to have deserted America, leaving just Doctor T.J. Eckleburg behind to gaze down with his vacant eyes on individuals who have abandoned their historic beliefs in the mission to accomplish wealth and

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